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Pregnancy choices

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Original poster

Unplanned 4th, wife won't consider termination

124 replies

theseraphim · 11/04/2017 00:25

Hello,

i know this is a woman's forum mostly but i figured where best to get advice than here.

we have 3 kids, 9, 5 and 4. all with some level of behavioural issue.

wife struggles with the basic running of the household and now with a 4th it will be too much for her.

We had discussed this previously and i made it clear i did not want more until the routines and house were in good order.

well fate screwed that up and now she's 3-5 weeks pregnant. I immediately suggested termination but apparently she "just can't bring herself to do it"

i don't know how to get her to see sense, between the financial cost, the physical and mental struggle (she was ill with 2 of the three pregnancies and almost had a stroke from one of them) and the fact that i really don't want more children right now it's going to be unmanageable.

she doesn't seem to be able to rationally understand the huge commitment she is forcing on the whole family.

i suggested termination for now, we can always get pregnant again in a few years once everything is in order but she is so adamant.

i don't even want to look at her right now let alone support her selfish decision (if it was later in the pregnancy i would understand but at this point it's just a yolk sac and a tiny ball of cells, no heartbeat etc)

i just needed to vent a little, but i can't seem to get her to understand that she is making the wrong choice and forcing her wishes upon me for no real benefit.

we were on birth control and she missed one dose and apparently that was enough to catch.

i just don't know how to cope with this without feeling angry towards her, how am i supposed to love a child i didn't want, whose timing will ruin all of our plans for the future not to mention the extra stress it will add to our already difficult children.

i know i can't force her, but it feels like she is forcing me because she knows i will step up, of course i will... but i would be doing it not by choice but by force.

what can i do?

OP posts:
Itaintme · 11/04/2017 00:30

You could support her instead of being angry with her.

crazycatgal · 11/04/2017 00:33

You said she was on birth control and missed one dose. You can't really call her selfish for wanting to go through with the pregnancy when you left the contraception up to her. You could have doubles up and 'put something on the end of it' if you really didn't want another child.

She's now the one who is carrying a child so ultimately you need to support her decision.

AndNowItIsSeven · 11/04/2017 00:34

Well firstly you can start by apologising to your wife, she didn't get pregnant on her own. Your have no right to tell her to have an abortion.
Also you seem quite ignorant, the heartbeat starts at 18 days from conception.

QueenoftheAndals · 11/04/2017 00:35

You could help her to get the house "in good order" and if you were so dead set on not having more kids then a vasectomy might've been an idea. HTH.

memyselfandaye · 11/04/2017 00:35

She "struggles" with running the house?

A "4th will be too much for her"?

"We were on birth control"?

And finally "a 4th will be too much for her"?

How about you pull your weight around the house, support the poor cow and get a fucking vasectomy?

I really hope you're a troll cos there is'nt a cure for terminal stupidity.

Newdad19 · 11/04/2017 00:35

Wow.

Another dad here and Im honestly pretty taking back by your post.

Shes inflicting nothing on you and there is no element of selfishness here. You both had sex and got pregnant - your an idiot to think birth control is 100% effective.

It's time to stop making this about you and man up for your wife.

Biscuit
OhWhatFuckeryIsThisNow · 11/04/2017 00:35

I hope you like arse, cos you are going to get yours served to you many times over.

Pomegranatemolasses · 11/04/2017 00:42

When you say that all of your children have behavioural issues, are you talking about diagnosed special needs?

You sound really angry with your wife - the sentence about 'the routines and the house being in good order' seem quite callous.

MrsTerryPratchett · 11/04/2017 00:45

What MeMyself said, but put more floweryly Grin

You simply cannot tell a woman what to do with her own body. Just can't, end of conversation. You could get a vacectomy, use condoms, pull out, not have sex, do more around the house, step up, help with routines and stop telling her what to do. All great options. Trying to pressure her into an abortion is not.

Neverknowing · 11/04/2017 00:46

You're an arsehole.
Basically what you've said here is she has to get an abortion because she doesn't keep your house clean enough? Man up and take responsibility. It takes two to tango.

Terfinator · 11/04/2017 00:55

Your situation does sound difficult. However, your attitude clearly isn't helping matters. It sounds like your wife isn't coping and needs more support. Could you afford an au pair?

In regards to the pregnancy, you will need to accept it. Full stop.

Congratulations Flowers

HeddaGarbled · 11/04/2017 00:57

Sounds like she needs help with the "basic running of the house" and "routines and house ...... in good order". Are you contibuting, or just criticising? If you are genuinely involved rather than judging from afar, maybe you need some outside intervention: cleaner, childminder, family etc.

HecateAntaia · 11/04/2017 00:57

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Teabagtits · 11/04/2017 01:04

we were on birth control and she missed one dose and apparently that was enough to catch

No you didn't bother your arse with birth control and left everything to your wife to sort (sounds a bit like everything else in your life from your description). It takes two to tango and you're now stuck with the result. You can't force someone to have a termination because you don't want another child. Why did you not get a vasectomy? Share the contraception responsibility, share the responsibility for the house and kids and share the responsibility for this fourth child.

5BlueHydrangea · 11/04/2017 01:10

The BABY is created. Not imagined. Life begins at conception. Your wife needs support not criticism. Try it.

Sansculottes · 11/04/2017 01:10

Op it sounds to me like you are mainly scared of what this extra baby might bring when you feel you are already struggling as a family. I'm sorry things feel so hard at the moment.

When we are finding things very difficult we can tend to lash out at others. Please make this something you deal with and decide together as the functioning of the family household is only going to become more not less difficult if you and your dw are at loggerheads.

Iirc the average woman taking bctablets misses 8 a year so she is far from alone in that and many women wouldn't feel able to terminate. I am very pro choice and don't think we could manage more dc, but if I got pg now I couldn't terminate. I think you need to start seeing this from her point of view too.

StrawberryJelly00 · 11/04/2017 01:11

I think as previous posters have said contraception is the responsibility of both you shouldn't expect your wife to go through an abortion - like it's as routine as getting a flu jab Hmm

When I got pregnant unexpectedly my OH's first thought was abortion and I understood why...he panicked...but ultimately it is my body and my choice he knew better than to force or coerce me into something I couldn't do.

If I had gone through with the abortion we definately would not have lasted in the relationship because I would have resented him for the rest of my life.

wobblywonderwoman · 11/04/2017 01:12

Bizarre thread - why are you with her?

Why does she have to keep order in the house and organise contraception. Pretty offensive to say its not life yet. I felt like mother from the day I did a pregnancy test.

ToesInWater · 11/04/2017 01:16

Why didn't you have a vasectomy if you definitely didn't want more children? I know it's a shock but you need to support your wife, helping rather than criticising would be a good start.

We had an unplanned third - I cried for four days when I found out I was pregnant. I was so grateful that DH took the "hey, what's another one" approach, like he said it wasn't something I did by myself. He had the snip when DD was two weeks old.

SparklyUnicornPoo · 11/04/2017 01:17

wife struggles with the basic running of the household and how are you at housework? where are you while she's trying to run the house?

What you can do is help her get things sorted, you can't force her to have an abortion and if you didn't want another child you should have been more careful, contraception is both parties responsibility.

Clonakilty · 11/04/2017 01:18

A woman's right to choose applies both ways: she can choose to keep the child if she wants. You're just going to have to accept and be supportive. You're a family.

lampshady · 11/04/2017 01:20

You sound perfect OP. I'm sorry you're saddled with such a sorry excuse for a woman - I imagine the behavioural problems are her fault too. By routines, is she also not making your morning coffee or cooking your dinner? I could see how that would breed resentment after a while.

I ensure I pump enough hormones and medication into my body so I can't get pregnant or recognise what a twat my husband is. It works.

ShoesHaveSouls · 11/04/2017 01:21

Yes, your life, finances etc may be easier if you diddn't have the baby.

Yes, some women may opt for a termination in this situation.

But, you cannot force her to have a termination against her will. That would be barbaric, inhuman. It's her body that this is happening to - she is pregnant, it's happened, and when she says she can't face an abortion, I'm afraid that is something that you cannot argue with.

If you were so dead set against another baby, then you should have taken more responsibility for contraception - the pill isn't 100% reliable even if taken correctly. The deed is done.

Topseyt · 11/04/2017 01:42

You sound as though you think the basic running of the house and it's routines, along with caring for the children are totally "women's work" so I take it you don't pull your weight there at all. Maybe if you did she wouldn't be struggling.

You sound very cold, clinical and critical,and you leave everything to your wife.

If not having another child was so essential then why didn't you have a vasectomy after number three? Or is contraception "women's work" too?

If YOU don't fully share the parenting and routines of your joint children and joint household then YOU are being VERY selfish and unsupportive. Pull your finger out and try getting stuck in.

You sound like one of those men (and unfortunately it is nearly always men) who seriously need reminding that these are your children too.

The pregnancy is now a fact. It is your wife's body and her ultimate decision, which you don't get to dictate. That is the reality. You had a hand in making this happen too because you didn't take any responsibility for contraception yourself.

Start being supportive and stop being an idiot.

AnnieAnoniMouse · 11/04/2017 01:55

This has to be a wind up. Surely. If not, I'm baffled as to how she got pregnant - unless of course she is pressured to do her other wifely duties.